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Major updates to tenancy laws are on the way. The Renters’ Rights Bill is introducing a wave of reforms aimed at improving conditions for tenants — and placing new duties on landlords. Here’s a clear breakdown of the upcoming changes and what they mean for you:
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Spring is often considered the most vibrant and refreshing time of the year. The days get longer, the flowers bloom, and the world seems to come alive again. But for homeowners looking to sell their property, spring offers more than just a beautiful backdrop—it’s an ideal season to list your home. Whether you’re a first-time seller or an experienced property owner, here’s why spring should be your go-to time for putting your property on the market in the UK.
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We’re almost midway through the current decade, and so far, there’s been very little to cheer. The UK property market has been on a rollercoaster journey driven by external events – a pandemic and the ensuing race for space, a cost of living crisis, inward migration and rampant inflation.
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Our tenth anniversary provides a fitting moment to reflect on past achievements and future plans
Most businesses can trace their history back to modest beginnings. Morrisons began as a market stall, Microsoft operated out of a garage and McDonalds consisted of a single burger shack. It takes hard work, creativity and professionalism to build a new business up from scratch – something the two co-founders of Cloud Estates are currently reflecting on as their boutique estate agency celebrates its tenth anniversary.
Location, location, location
When lifelong friends James Skoyles and Jordan Bowe started trading out of a small office in Kingston Park, they had ambitious plans to grow their fledgling estate agency business. Moving to the more high-profile setting of Jesmond in 2014 turbocharged Cloud Estates’ growth, with a further relocation to Heaton in late 2021 giving the brand a double-fronted high street shop with excellent visibility and accessibility.
As well as upgrading premises during the last ten years, Cloud Estates has also expanded its team. There are now eight full-time staff including a sales negotiator with more than 20 years’ experience, and two in-house maintenance operative who helps us to manage almost 150 properties across Newcastle and Gateshead. The decision to become HMO management specialists proved particularly shrewd, with little competition in this sector. Cloud Estates has subsequently engaged with a series of innovative developers to manage some of the best high-specification HMO properties across north east England.
Tenant’s extra
While some boutique agencies focus mainly on residential property sellers, or concentrate on attracting affluent buyers, Cloud Estates has quietly built trusted relationships with tenants. The type of property tenure is far less important than nurturing strong connections with owners, landlords and tenants alike, particularly as councils up and down the UK are declaring housing emergencies. Many Cloud Estates tenants have been signed up with us since the last decade, generating consistently positive feedback which is also enthusiastically provided by buyers and vendors.
The desire to deliver quality housing for all was behind another corporate innovation – offering full property renovations as an additional service via our sister company Cloud Renovations Ltd. To date, approximately 10 large-scale renovation projects have been completed, and many more are in the pipeline, from bathroom refurbishments to full-house renovations and extensions. It’s a further acknowledgement that clients have widely differing expectations; the one-size-fits-all services offered by some companies won’t always match specific requirements.
Sailing into calmer waters
The last ten years has been among the most turbulent in the housing market’s history. Brexit, a global pandemic and war in Europe have each impacted everything from inflation to cost-of-living pressures, while migration levels and minimal housebuilding have heaped further pressure onto an already overheated property market. We’re approaching the fourth general election in nine years, and it’s impossible to predict which manifesto promises will be honoured in terms of housing. As a result, it’s more important than ever to be able to rely on seasoned property professionals who understand the Newcastle market – especially when it bucks regional or national trends.
With ambitious plans to expand the sales department that first opened in 2021, James acknowledges the many people, clients, contractors and employees who have contributed to Cloud Estates’ various successes over the last decade: “We wouldn't be where we are today without your continued support. We're so grateful for the growth our business has seen in recent years, especially since moving to Heaton, and we put much of this growth down to the fantastic team we’ve built around us. We are very excited about what the future holds…”
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Life is often challenging, making it advisable to reduce stress levels at home
We’re less than halfway through the current decade, yet it’s already provided numerous shocks and challenges. The combined effects of war in Europe, a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, rampant inflation, mass strikes and political upheaval across all four Home Nations have made some people physically and mentally unwell with stress.
Our homes are meant to be sanctuaries, but many people are failing to fully harness their property’s stress-busting potential. We’ve put together six suggestions to reduce stress levels around the home, and many of these tips will also improve its appeal to buyers if you’re planning to market it this year…
Minimise clutter
Potential purchasers won’t be enthused by a messy home, and it won’t do your own mental health any good, either. Reduce stress levels by choosing fixed locations for daily clutter like paperwork, laundry and shoes. Ensure items are always put away after use (especially toys and gadgets), since empty surfaces are subconsciously calming. Minimising clutter also makes cleaning easier and increases your pride in your home, while knowing where to find objects simplifies finding them later.
Use aromatherapy
We’re not talking about classes here, but rather introducing pleasurable scents into corners of your home. Fragrances can transport you back to specific moments or places, and while you’re focusing on a pleasant aroma, your mind can’t simultaneously feel anxious. Scented candles, wax melts and reed diffusers are obvious choices, alongside citrus soaps and floral cleaning products. Grow herbs indoors and keep a vase of fresh flowers. Conversely, banish smelly shoes and over-ripe fruit, and empty the kitchen bin every day.
Deploy effective lighting
Dull lighting creates a depressing and gloomy ambience, yet too much light could seem harsh and oppressive. Hardwiring new ceiling lights in may be a false economy if you’re planning to move house, whereas lamps are portable and flexible. Their pools of brightness add character, making it easier to read, as well as cutting out stress-inducing eye strain or headaches. Full spectrum lighting stimulates the same serotonin release as sunshine – ideal for home offices or north-facing rooms.
Undertake light exercise
You don’t need to run a marathon to capitalise on exercise’s ability to reduce stress levels. Indeed, too much exercise could actually cause anxiety, especially if you become obsessed with personal bests or daily schedules. Focus on gentler activities like tai chi or yoga which suit your daily routine. Walking is arguably the best exercise of all, with the added benefits of being free and unlimited. Allow time to cool down after exercising, rather than rushing off to honour other commitments.
Banish technology from the bedroom
This is a hard sell in the age of smartphone addiction, but the health benefits of an analogue bedroom are widely recognised. When technology creeps in, it’s usually an excuse – alarm clocks will wake you up in the morning, and few late-night emails or WhatsApp messages require an immediate response. Banishing technology improves both the quantity and quality of sleep, and feeling well rested is vital if you want to reduce stress levels the next day.
Maximise comfort levels
There is a significant sensory difference between sitting on a hard wooden chair compared to a plush fabric one. This sums up the benefits of comfortable mattresses, furnishings and home office chairs. The latter are particularly important, with armrests and lumbar support vital to minimise musculoskeletal issues that may trigger their own anxieties. A well-sprung mattress with a soft protector can replicate the luxury of a high-end hotel suite, as well as helping to reduce stress levels at the end of a long day.
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The legal aspects of buying and selling a house may seem complicated, but Cloud Estates can help to guide you through the conveyancing process
Given the complexity of buying and selling property, it’s perhaps inevitable that a certain amount of industry jargon creeps into conversations between agents and our customers. At Cloud Estates, we try to keep things as simple as possible for our clients, but you’ll still hear us referring to concepts like the conveyancing process.
The conveyancing process describes the legal steps required to transfer ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. It generally takes three to four months, or slightly longer when purchasing a leasehold property, which requires additional checks and documentation. Sellers also have to do some conveyancing, but we’ve focused below on the process of buying a property – the more complex and time-consuming side of the transaction. This is what a conveyancing expert will do for you…
- Examine documents.
Once you appoint someone to handle conveyancing, they’ll examine various legal documents and raise any queries which arise with the selling party’s solicitor. This happens behind the scenes and can take a while. That’s frustrating if you’re keen to complete quickly, but it’s necessary to ensure there are no nasty surprises, such as compulsory factoring charges.
- Arrange a survey.
Mortgage lenders rarely approve loans on properties without a survey. In England, it’s up to the buyers to choose how detailed they’d like their survey to be. There are five tiers, but a Level 2 RICS Home Survey or RPSA Home Condition Survey should be comprehensive enough for most property transactions.
- Conduct property searches.
This is another behind-the-scenes stage, where your solicitor conducts detailed legal checks to ensure the property you’re buying isn’t likely to give you any undue trouble. They’ll explore areas like flood risk, historic ownership and local council planning schemes. The cost of conducting these searches should be clearly stated up front, as part of the total conveyancing fee.
- Conduct a valuation.
Unless you’re a cash buyer, the conveyancing process will require a mortgage valuation on the property. A more complex version of the valuations Cloud Estates undertakes, this ensures any lender will have enough equity to underwrite a loan. Buildings insurance for the estimated value of the property also needs to be arranged, though you don’t need contents insurance yet.
- Sign-off.
Once your solicitor’s questions have been answered, they’ll ask if you still want to go ahead with the purchase. Reasons for pulling out might include a survey identifying structural issues, or the mortgage lender undervaluing the property. If you’re happy to go ahead, set a completion date and arrange to pay a non-refundable deposit (usually ten per cent of the property’s value).
Finally, it’s the day when you and the seller exchange contracts – through your solicitors, of course. This happens at a set date and time but might be reliant on other people in a property chain exchanging first. As soon as contracts are exchanged, you’re legally obliged to buy the property, while the seller can’t withdraw from the market or demand a higher price.
Also known as ‘moving day’ in many cases, this is the mutually agreed date when you transfer the balance of payment to the seller’s solicitors. In return, they release the keys for your home. It generally happens around midday on a Friday. Afterwards, there’ll be a few loose ends to tie up, such as your name being recorded as the property’s new legal owner at the Land Registry.
Whether you’re selling or buying, Cloud Estates is here to support and guide you through the conveyancing process. Get in touch with us for more information on how we can simplify the process of selling and buying property in Newcastle and across the north-east.
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Ten tips for showing viewers around your house
If you’re handling your own viewings, it’s imperative to optimise the process of showing viewers around your house.
Showing viewers around your house can feel intimidating. At Cloud Estates, we simplify property marketing by vetting enquiries to ensure anyone who arrives at your front door is a motivated and viable purchaser. However, if you’re handling your own viewings (as most homeowners do), it’s crucial to represent your property in its best light, including maximising its presentation.
Even if you’re not confident chatting to strangers, or blessed with a silver tongue, these ten tips for showing viewers around your house are worth committing to memory…
- Rehearse your introduction. You can’t script an entire property tour, but a confident start puts everyone at ease. Practice a few icebreaker opening lines like “thanks for coming – I’ll be your tour guide today” until you find yourself saying them confidently.
- Neutralise aromas. While your home’s for sale, avoid cooking pungent foods like fish. Maximise fresh air, light a candle downstairs and banish smelly shoes into cupboard. If possible, remove pets from the property ahead of scheduled viewings.
- Start and finish in the strongest space. First impressions count, while the last thing people see lingers in their memory. Bookend viewings with your property’s best attribute – a large family kitchen, a suntrap garden or a well-presented period hallway.
- Highlight hidden features. Don’t just walk into the bathroom and say, “here’s the bathroom”. Add context and insider info – which rooms get the afternoon sun, any recent refurbishments or key specifications, and features regular visitors appreciate/comment on.
- Let people walk ahead of you. Walking around with your back to viewers feels unfriendly. They’ll struggle to hear you, and you can’t control when they move on to another room, which you can when leading from the back.
- Avoid negatives. Property viewings should be positive affairs, so don’t mention problems or issues. Say “the extension’s been reroofed” rather than “the roof used to leak”; “we’ve floored the loft” rather than “we ran out of storage”.
- Discuss flexibility. People may allocate rooms differently to your current configuration. If a home office accommodates a double bed, say so. Visitors may struggle to picture their furniture in unfamiliar spaces or imagine how certain rooms could be redeployed.
- Let people wander around. However comprehensive your tour has been, viewers will want to revisit certain features. Give them permission to explore unaccompanied, telling them where you’ll be waiting once they’ve finished, and then encouraging any supplementary questions.
- Don’t talk turkey. We recommend deflecting questions about offers or interest levels to Cloud Estates and our team of property professionals. Even if you’re a salesperson by trade, discussing property values during viewings is a minefield!
- Say goodbye. After showing viewers around your house, walk them to the front door and thank them for coming. This creates a positive final impression, suggesting you’ll be approachable and reasonable during offer negotiations or conveyancing.
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There has always been tension between the competing rights of tenants and landlords. Proposed Section 21 changes will rebalance this relationship in favour of tenants, but they’ll come at a cost.
If you’ve ever rented a property from a bad landlord, you’ll understand the frustrations of inadequate maintenance and the threat of your tenancy being abruptly terminated. Equally, if you’ve ever rented a property to a bad tenant, you’ll understand the frustrations of antisocial behaviour and non-payment of rental income.
Striking a balance between the respective rights of tenants and landlords relies on historic legislation, and nobody is entirely satisfied with the current situation. The Conservatives promised in their 2019 election manifesto to abolish no-fault evictions, but these plans – often referred to as Section 21 changes – have yet to be implemented.
What does Section 21 allow landlords to do?
As defined in the Housing Act 1988, a Section 21 notice of possession is the document landlords give to tenants when they’re preparing to take possession of a rented property. It relies on a county or high court officer executing an order for possession within 14 days of a notice being issued on an assured shorthold tenancy. People routinely use the phrase ‘no-fault evictions’ because landlords don’t need a reason for issuing a Section 21 notice.
What would the proposed Section 21 changes mean?
In a 2022 white paper titled ‘A fairer private rented sector’, the Government pledged to abolish Section 21 evictions, improving the security of tenancies across England and Wales. This would ensure tenants can’t be evicted for spurious reasons – requests for essential maintenance causing landlords to regard tenants as an irritation, for instance. Tenancies can only be ended on specific grounds, and documented evidence will be required that one or more of these criteria has been met.
Does this make life harder for landlords?
Section 21 changes will be counterbalanced by revisions to Section 8 of the Housing Act. Landlords will be able to repossess a property on various grounds, such as wanting to let a relative move in, or choosing to sell the property. These grounds for notice will become mandatory, so the eviction must happen if the landlord can demonstrate any relevant criteria have been met. There will also be stronger powers to evict non-paying tenants, or anyone engaging in antisocial or criminal behaviour.
Are these Section 21 changes certain to happen?
Governments break their promises all the time, so there’s no guarantee the abolition of Section 21 will happen. The National Residential Landlords Association is demanding court reforms before Section 21 is abolished, citing huge court case backlogs and inefficiencies in existing processes. With landlords abandoning this sector and rental prices soaring, the Government may even decide to delay implementation until after next year’s general election.
Where can I get more advice?
At Cloud Estates, we’re highly knowledgeable about the proposed Section 21 changes, and how they might impact the local market. Contact us at any time to discuss your tenancy or property portfolio.
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At Cloud Estates, we’re experts in bringing homes to market, finding buyers for properties of all types. However, we can often achieve higher selling prices if homeowners work with us to maximise the appeal of their properties...
View your home like a stranger
The weeks before a property listing goes live represent a unique opportunity. You want buyers to fall in love with your home, and yet it’s easy to spoil those all-important first impressions. Start the process of preparing your home for sale by standing outside and surveying everything with a critical eye. Are there weeds growing out of the paving stones, mould below the windowsills or bald patches across the lawn? Many prospective viewers will do a drive-by before making an appointment, and signs of neglect could deter them from booking an appointment. Red flags include tumbledown sheds, unmowed grass and badly maintained boundary walls/fences.
Once you’re confident your property’s kerb appeal has been maximised, give the interior the same critical treatment, room by room. Clutter is a guaranteed turn-off – shoes beside the front door, cereal boxes on the worktops and toiletries along the bath. The implication is that your home lacks storage – and if you’ve outgrown it, so might potential purchasers. Preparing your home for sale is the ideal time to donate old clothes, toys and books to charity. Streamline the contents of your kitchen cupboards and wardrobes (viewers sometimes open them!) and find a hidden home for paperwork and keys. Your loft, garage and airing cupboard don’t need to be immaculate, but they should look presentable. If they’re not, hire a skip and have a clearout.
Mistletoe and wine
Preparing your home for sale involves tackling those little DIY jobs – oiling door hinges so they don’t squeak, replacing blown lightbulbs and filling holes in the ceiling where you hung mistletoe last Christmas. You might have fond memories of the party when you spilled red wine on the carpet, but a stranger will just see an ugly stain. Far better to tackle these problems pre-emptively. You don’t have to redecorate every room, but the property needs to look fresh and well-maintained.
When your home’s for sale, it’s yours and yet not yours. You need to live in it, but you shouldn’t throw parties or cook whiffy food. A viewer could knock on your door at any time if there’s a board outside, though we’ll always try to arrange official viewings at convenient times. It’s often advisable to box up hobby equipment or collections, minimise the toiletries on display in bathrooms, and pack ornaments ready for moving. Take down any football paraphernalia, too; a Sunderland fan won’t be impressed by a giant poster of St James’s Park, for instance. It won’t cost you a sale, but it creates negative connotations, especially when people are viewing photos online.
If you’d like more advice on preparing your home for sale, give Cloud Estates a call for some personalised property marketing advice.
